Hiking and Backpacking Boots

There are is a huge variety of hiking footwear choices available, from crampon-compatible mountain boots for climbing Everest to lightweight sandals for easy trail hikes and watersports. Finding the right pair isn't always easy. The first question to ask is this: boot or shoe? There is no doubt that hiking boots provide better ankle support than shoes, but they're also heavier and hotter. Experienced outdoor sportspeople sometimes choose use shoes for hiking these days (partly because the shoes themselves are much better suited to outdoor use than they were a couple of decades ago), even if the distance is quite long and the terrain rough, but if you're not certain go for boots.